Why I choose to live in Spain

Here are just a few reasons:

Unlike Australia for example, Spain has a strong history (and a lively culture today) of political and intellectual debate.

Those who use words as their business (including writers and media figures) are generally well-respected.

While, it is true that some of the debate of current issues can be predictably rigid along ideological lines, the fact that a healthy public discussion exists at all means that people (including the young) can and do become active in local movements and organisations.

The pride that so many adults and children have of their town and region means that they often take an active interest in defending it and being part of its collective life.

A lot less Spaniards move away from their home area than say, North Americans, which creates bonds of attachment to the people and places of they grew up with. In other words, adults and younger people “know their roots” here and have a fundamental respect for them.

Related to this point above is the fact that in Spain there are plenty of public open spaces that are not there just to be commercial.

The plazas are not shopping centres and the ramblas are not principally designed for trade. The parks are many and they are not “retail parks” for buying and selling.

The town square is not a “mall” but is instead reserved for festivals or protests.

All these places are for idling, strolling, gathering and talking, socializing and playing. They are social by their nature and they function as spaces for community activities rather than for simply spending money.

To someone like myself who grew up with the focal point of young life being a multi-storey shopping center, I am happy to know that my son and his friends (plus the students I teach) will not be spending their free time sitting around in a place where everyone is first and foremost a consumer.

Paginas nuevas en español (New pages in Spanish)

Hoy al bretthetherington.net...Paginas nuevas en español por ‘dropdown’ menú

Dos capítulos del mi libro “El padre re-hecho.” (Traductor: Lluïsa Garriga.)

- REPLANTEARSE EL HECHO DE SER PADRES
- ESPAÑA: ¿UN PARAÍSO PARA LOS PADRES?
- Una Biografía: Versión en español

My translation of Nathan Shepherdson's poem No. 17

dos cuervos trabajan el césped de cementerio
llevan sus contornos tan discretos sobre la tierra más tranquila
como una pasatiempo que ellos comprueban la ortografía sobre las placas
su movimiento sin alas más fácil para admirar
cuando vuelan ellos vuelan hacia un remate de un chiste sombrío
que fue cocinado en un horno de la ornitología de una canción infantil
ellos andan como el mecanismo aburren a portadores del féretro
pero sin el peso de circunstancias, el peso de las lágrimas
se sospecha que pueden el conocimiento de ensaye al gramo
ellos toman decisiones del otro lado de la risa
sus plumas con la tinta oscura de cuervos de rezos muertos
son negras porque ellos comen el pigmento del instinto
los cuervos se ofenden a casa, la cueva
nunca olvidan de cantar a la muerte un cumpleaños feliz
aún cuenta las velas como cada vida es extinguida

[From: Sweeping the Light Back into the Mirror]

Good news for anyone who drinks or uses water

The tide in Europe is turning back towards water and other essentials being controlled by public institutions, instead of private companies.

"The privatisation of water facilities has proven all over the world to be a major mistake, both in terms of prices and of the quality of services provided to the citizens," said Olivier Hoedemann, a member of the watchdog organisation Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO).

As this article reports, several German municipalities have recently bought back water rights on behalf of their populations, and in Paris “the municipal administration will this year regain control of all water services for the city, ending a private monopoly that has lasted more than 100 years.”

In Spain, 60% of the population is served by private water companies which operate under concession contracts with municipalities, though this country still has one of the lowest water rates in Europe.

An interview about Spain for Australian radio

This week I will be interviewed on Australia’s ABC Radio about current events in Spain and our lives here in Catalonia. The program is Overnights – Round the World and will be at approximately 4.15am on Saturday AEST.

Australian Sunday Magazine article with our (8 year old) son Hugo about life in Spain

He gets better press than me!!! For the link to this article click here

Do not be alarmed...

Yes, this is the same blog as before, but it's now not just my name (a bit dull really.) I've just changed the name with an adaptation of a Bob Dylan song title.